My Days with Christ Jesus

Day 196

July 15

"But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose." -Mark 9:27

Christians believe that we are in the battle, that life is a war... we are in a spiritual war right now.

Pain, suffering, struggles, challenges or whatever you call it... we have it. No one is exempted of such but the only difference of believer to a unbeliever, which is an enormous and beyond great difference is that we have a God who will lift us up every time we fall. That we are able to declare victory in this life because Christ Jesus Himself overcame death, the third day He rose again. That is the promise we hope for at the end of our life and until He returns, whichever comes first.

This verse has allow us to picture out how Jesus would save us... 'by the hand...'

" I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." -Isaiah 41:10

You get to hold His hand that is His promise to the believers. When trials/tribulations strikes, think of it as an opportunity to hold God's mighty hand. He is mighty to save and so you need not to worry just trust Him in everything. In the end all is well, and if it's not yet well then it's not the end.

'...lifted him up' He will lift you up... that is to say He will promote you. When you trust Him in times of trouble and that trust will enable you to overcome by His grace thru faith, blessings will then overflow. There will be a reward at the end of the trials.

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." -James 1:12

'...he arose...' who will arise? The Christian. The only way we can rise up is because of the One who lift us up... We are able to rise up to all of life's challenges because of our God. We are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Romans 8:37). 'The One who loves us' is our hope, that no matter what happens to us in this life not even death can overcome us because of Him, He has defeated death... death has no hold on us anymore we have life, the eternal life we receive thru our faith in Him, in Jesus Christ.

The Christian life can be summarise with this:

'...and be killed, and on the third day be raised.' -Matthew 16:21

Yes. Two truths are presented here: one is that there will be pain and suffering, it can be unbearable and to some worst extent it can and may kill you but... the 2nd truth is that we will rise again, it may not be on the third day, but there will be a day... a day we will rise again with Him lifting us up.

He is the only reason we can stand in this life no matter how many times we stumble and so call unto Him. Jesus hand is already stretched out, you just have to reach in.

To God be the glory!